There was a time, maybe even a two-year period, where it seemed like Curivari could graduate from a small, somewhat unknown manufacturer to the next level. For a variety of reasons—I would argue none of them related to the quality of cigars—it has never reached the potential that people like me once thought was possible.

It’s not that it hasn’t become a bigger brand; it certainly grew and maybe is still growing. But, Curivari never got close to becoming a Tatuaje let alone a Crowned Heads.

But even if Curivari hasn’t fulfilled the brand power potential that I and others once saw, the cigars have remained quite good.

Portfolio-wise, Curivari has so many lines that I don’t even really know what it is or isn’t selling today. I do know that in searching for a redux I ran across a Curivari that I smoked some time ago, even if the company’s name isn’t explicitly on it. In 2016, Finck Cigars in San Antonio commissioned a tweaked version of Curivari’s Buenaventura line, which has to be one of the company’s most popular regular production lines.

The blend remained a Nicaraguan puro, but there was more ligero added to the 6 x 52 box-pressed creation. It was named the Buenaventura BV Treas after Trea Bishop, who at the time was Finck’s top employee in terms of Curivari sales.

It was priced at an extremely affordable $5.85 per cigar and limited to 500 boxes of 10 cigars.

Here’s what I said about the Buenaventura BV Treas when I reviewed it in March 2016:

I remember when Curivari was still a relatively unheralded brand, even on the internet, and the cigars were most certainly towards the top of the list of hidden gems in the cigar world. I also remember 2013, when the brand had increased in popularity in the company’s older lines and newer offerings were nothing to write home about. While I wasn’t enamored with Buenaventura when it debuted in 2012, the line has grown on me and I think the BV Treas is the best of the three or four sizes I’ve smoked. In other good news, I also think the regular production sizes have gotten better. This is an extremely well-balanced full-flavored cigar that is medium-full in both body and strength. A couple of construction issues hurt the score a bit, but I’d gladly smoke another one and would easily recommend picking a handful up whenever you are in the San Antonio area. I’d also bring some sweet tea with me.

  • Cigar Reviewed: Buenaventura BV Treas
  • Country of Origin: Not Disclosed
  • Factory: Not Disclosed
  • Wrapper: Nicaragua
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Length: 6 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 52
  • Vitola: Toro
  • MSRP: $5.85 (Box of 10, $58.50)
  • Release Date: March 15, 2016
  • Number of Cigars Released: 500 Boxes of 10 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
  • Number of Cigars Smoked For Redux: 1

Once I opened the box up I was pleasantly surprised to see the shape of this cigar, as it is wonderful. Not too big, not too small and a pretty aggressive box press. The wrapper isn’t perfect—there’s quite a bit of discoloration—but I still find plenty of oil left on the cigar which is always a good sign. Unfortunately, I don’t get much in the way of aroma from the cigar, so little that I have zero notes of any aroma. The foot smells great with the Buenaventura providing lots of oatmeal cookie over something that reminds me of the smell of Sprite and a touch of acorns. The cold draw is super bright with more of that Sprite flavor, some creaminess and hints of green grapes; right around medium-full.

The Buenaventura BV Treas begins with nuttiness and some of that Sprite flavor, then some dryness and nuttiness follows; all four flavors quite rich yet still balanced. An inch in and the profile has settled on a mixture of wet earth, nuttiness, lemon and some mint. Retrohoales produce more of that Sprite flavor, some meatiness, a sweet fruity flavor that is different than the Sprite, and then touches of both toastiness and some garlic powder. The finish has more of that garlic powder, mixing with some nuttiness and a black tea flavor. The way my mouth feels after the smoke has fully left, it feels like I’ve just had an excessive amount of greasy pizza. Flavor is medium-full, body is medium and strength is medium. Construction is excellent.

There’s a reshuffling of flavors in the second third. The nuttiness is still there, but wet leaves and burnt coffee have picked up and are now equal, if not a bit stronger than the nut mixture. While there’s not much sweetness amongst the main mouth flavor, retrohales brighten things up quite a bit to help the balance, which is otherwise fine but improves to great with a retrohale. There’s something that reminds of the inside of a cinnamon bun, some nuttiness and a soggy white bread. Without a retrohale, the Buenaventura BV Treas finishes toasty with some damp earth and campfire-like flavors. If I take a retrohale, there’s some buttery creaminess and a mild Hatch chili flavor. The final third keeps the nuttiness, now joined by lots of white pepper and some creaminess. Retrohales keep much of the main mouth flavors, though there’s some added dry pasta and apples. The finish has some acorns that sit over a bit of black pepper and paprika. Flavor is full, body is medium-plus, and strength finishes medium-full. If you are confused about why you haven’t seen a mention of the construction it’s because it is flawless from start to finish.

92 Overall Score

The Buenaventura BV Treas was a good cigar when it first came out and four years later, it’s a very good cigar. It’s certainly a tad bit milder than it was fresh, particularly when it comes to body and strength, but it remains a rather full-flavored experience from start to finish in both intensity and the number of flavors. Given the original price, it also remains one of the best values I’ve smoked in quite some time, though time isn’t free. If all cigars aged this well, people would never smoke fresh cigars.

Original Score (March 2016)
90
Redux Score (June 2020)
92
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Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.